Men face huge fines for possessing threatened species of fish
10 Mar 2017
Three men face serious fisheries charges after they were allegedly found in possession of a number of threatened species of fish during an inspection of their boat in south western NSW earlier this month.
NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI) Director, Fisheries Compliance Patrick Tully, said a Fisheries Officer apprehended the men in possession of a combination of threatened species of fish and prohibited size Murray Cod on February 19 in a targeted patrol.
“The three men were checked aboard a boat on the Murray River approximately 20km upstream of Barooga. The Fisheries Officer conducted a search of the boat and found the stash of threatened species and prohibited size fish in a keeper bag,” Mr Tully said.
A Yarroweyah man and two men from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs face several breaches of the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 for possessing 8 Trout Cod, 12 Silver Perch, 2 prohibited size Murray Cod and failing to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee.
“There are heavy sanctions for harming, buying, selling, or possessing threatened species in NSW, including fines of up to $220,000 and two years in prison, or both.”
Mr Tully said the Trout Cod Protection Area (TCPA) stretches for 101km of the Murray River between the Yarrawonga Weir wall downstream to the Newell Highway Road Bridge at Tocumwal.
“This stretch of Murray River holds the last naturally breeding population of the endangered Trout Cod in NSW. A ban on all methods of fishing exists in the TCPA during the months of September, October and November each year as an extra protection measure,” Mr Tully said.
“Silver Perch are a threatened species of finfish in NSW waters and are currently listed as vulnerable. They cannot be taken from any NSW rivers and must be returned to the water immediately with the least possible harm. Silver Perch can however be taken from listed stocked impoundments in NSW where the bag limit is 5 per person with a minimum size limit of 25cm.”
“Murray Cod are an iconic species of freshwater fish and are considered a trophy species throughout Australia. In NSW waters, a slot limit exists for the species where a fisher may only take 2 Murray Cod per day with a total of 4 in possession between 55cm & 75cm.
“If accidental capture of any threatened species or prohibited size fish occurs, they should be returned to the water immediately with the least possible harm.”
Anyone with information on suspected illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their local Fisheries Office or call the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536. You can also report illegal fishing activity online through the DPI Fisheries web page.
Further information
Media contact: Sarah Wright 0427075167 or 63913686
